Instant New York Times BestsellerOnce the Countess of Riverdale, Viola Kingsley throws all caution to the wind when adventure calls in the form of a handsome aristocrat. . . .Two years after the death of the Earl of Riverdale, his family has overcome the shame of being stripped of their titles and fortune–except for his onetime countess, Viola. With her children grown and herself no longer part … With her children grown and herself no longer part of the social whirl of the ton, she is uncertain where to look for happiness–until quite by accident her path crosses once again with that of the Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr.
Marcel Lamarr has been a notorious womanizer since the death of his wife nearly twenty years earlier. Viola caught his eye when she herself was a young mother, but she evaded his seduction at the time. A prize that eluded him before, she is all the more irresistible to him now although he is surprised to discover that she is as eager now for the excitement he offers as he is himself.
When the two defy convention and run away together, they discover that the ties of respectability are not so easily severed, and pleasure can ensnare you when you least expect it. . . .
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Every time I read a Mary Balogh book, I think it’s my favorite…until the next one. She is a queen among writers, and she is permanently on my keeper/know-I’ll-be-rereading-this-one shelf. It’s remarkable how she takes what should by now be a really overdone era with conventions that are set in concrete…and she makes each story original, compelling and sigh-worthy. Viola’s story is one of those. I was heartbroken when the remarkable Survivor series ended, sure I wouldn’t warm to the Westcotts… But as with each and every series of hers, the stories are unique and touching, a pleasure to savor and a new set of must-reads. I’m already mourning the end of this series–and sending all manner of positive thoughts for the best-of-the-best Ms. Balogh’s continuing good health. She’s a true Incomparable, and I’m a grateful reader, blessing the day I discovered her wonderful books!
I stayed up till 3 AM to finish this one. The romance and emotional turmoil are excellent.
4.5 stars
Marcel Lamarr, The Marquess of Dorchester is not happy, his coach has stopped at an inn to take care of a horse with a loose shoe, and he and his brother Andre are stuck in the taproom until it can be repaired. He just wants to get home, make an appearance and then go back to his libertine lifestyle in London. Being home just reminds him of his failings and he has no desire to think about them.
While he is brooding, he happens to glance over to the dining room and sees a face from the past – the Countess of Riverdale, a woman he loved and who told him to go away 14 years ago. He learns from his brother that she no longer uses the Westcott name, she is now Miss. Kingley.
Viola Kingley is running away. Over two years have passed since she learned the awful truth – her marriage of over twenty years was invalid, she is not the Countess of Riverdale, her three children are all illegitimate and the society that used to revere her, now shun her. She thought she had made peace with it all, but at a recent family gathering, she lost it and just needed to get away and be alone. In her rush to leave, she refused all offers for transportation and rented a carriage – a carriage with a bad axel and now she is stranded at an inn in the middle of nowhere. She secures a room and goes to the dining room for a meal and that when she sees him – the man she loved but sent away 14 years ago.
Marcel approaches her and asks if there was a time limit when she told him to go away. When she says no, he suggests they spend the day together, which leads to the night together. Then he suggests they run away together – not for forever, but for a few weeks – just until what is between them fades – which it will. Viola agrees, surprising both of them.
They enjoy a wonderful affair and when Voila senses his withdrawal, she tells him she wants to go home. He is hurt and angry, he is not ready to end things, but he lashes out with polite, yet hurtful words. They make plans to leave the next day, but everything changes in the blink of an eye. Volia’s frantic family has found them. To save her reputation, Marcel announces that they are betrothed and decided to get away and steal some private time before they told their families. Voila is shocked, but plays along. Later she confronts him, but now they are interrupted by the arrival of his family! The story is repeated and plans are made.
Voila loves Marcel, but she will not marry him, she already endured one loveless marriage and has no desire to shackle herself to a man who doesn’t love her and will not be faithful. But how will they be able to end this farce without hurting anyone?
I really loved this story, Marcel is such a complexed character, he has deep hurts in his past and there are things that he must address before he can even think about a relationship with Viola. Viola too has things that she must make peace with before sharing her life with anyone. I really loved them both, but I felt like they deliberately misunderstood each other and let it drag on until almost the last page. But when they finally talk, it was wonderful and I loved it.
This is the fourth book in the Westcott series, and it can be read as a stand alone title, but for the best understanding of Viola’s backstory, I would suggest at least reading the first book, Someone to Love before you read this story.
Someone to Care is the 4th book in the Westcott series, revolving around a family who got the shock of their lives to discover that their father/husband was a bigamist, thereby illegitimizing his (second) marriage and his children of the second wife. This was quite the scandal back in the day, causing the ton to scorn the family. So we follow the Westcotts as the navigate this new dimension of their lives, learning to manage the fall-out and find a way to move on.
So our heroine in this series was quite unique for a historical heroine – she was 42 years old! Viola Kingsley was the fraudulent bride of the scoundrel Westcott, and mother to the now illegitimate Westcott children. Viola has been a silent pillar of strength in previous books, and in her own story we see just how much she has internalized her pain throughout the ordeal. But Viola has finally cracked and run away from her family, and is being selfish for (it seems) the first time in her life. I really sympathized with her situation and was glad that she was being selfish. I liked her as a heroine and I was so happy to have someone a little older than our standard marriage-minded miss.
The hero was somewhat unexpected as well, Marcel Lamarr, the Marquess of of Devonshire, is a few years younger than our heroine. Since the death of his wife many years ago, Marcel has been a rake and womanizer, making his way through all the single women of the ton, and flirting outrageously. Viola seems to be the only woman to have ever turned him away, and it left a lasting impact. While Marcel was a rake on the surface, he had hidden depths that no one seemed to notice. Deeply wounded by his wife’s death and riddled with guilt, his behavior has been a mask for the pain and shame he feels. I also liked Marcel as a hero, but I tend to have a soft spot for reformed rakes.
The relationship between these two was not a slow burn, but it did feel like it was dragged out quite far (despite the early intimacy). I thought their characters completed one another quite well, and I really liked the carefree version of Viola that we saw in the village and at the cottage. There was a lot of miscommunication between the two that created relationship obstacles and prolonged the story – and that wasn’t my favorite. I would have liked to have the relationship solidified for a portion of the book and then spend some time with them as a married couple. Luckily, we will most likely be revisiting them in the remaining books of the series.
I continue to adore the Westcott family and I have a feeling that Harry’s book is going to be outstanding. While this particular story was not my favorite, the series as a whole has been spectacular.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.
I enjoyed the characters and the fact that they were a little older than the norm.
Each book in Mary Balough’s Westcott series of “ Someone to…..” is beautifully written, with characters seemingly tragic, yet strong and determined to make the best of what fate has dealt them. Look for romance, passion and ultimately happy endings. “Someone to Care” may be the best yet, but I say that after finishing each one. You will enjoy the series.
A terrific romance if you’re looking for older characters. The hero is 39 and the heroine is 42, both have children and she even has grandchildren–it’s a historical after all. Sensual, romantic and thoughtful. Highly recommended.
If you keep up with my blog you know that I am a huge Mary Balogh Fan, I have read everything she has written and loved them all. This story goes to my 3rd favorite, behind Heartless and Slightly Dangerous. Marcel Lamarr, Marquess of Dorchester is the perfect hero for Viola Kingsley. In some ways, Marc reminds me of Lucas (Heartless) and Wulfric (Slightly Dangerous).
He is unapologetic in the way that he chooses to live his life. He is beautiful in a dangerous way without a care for others. He is arrogant, subtle in his speech and irresistible to women. He takes what he wants and moves on when he gets bored. He is not interested in reforming and is brazen in his appetites. He was married when he was 20 years old, his wife 18. He has twins, a boy, and a girl. His wife died in a tragic accident which has shaped his life and everyone in it. He is 40 years old and has spent little time with his family or his children. He has buried his past and all the emotions that led to his wife’s death. His sister-in-law and her husband moved into his home and has raised his children. He only goes home when he feels he must put in an appearance and never stays long, the feelings that try to emerge send him fleeing back to London.
Viola Kingsley is a tainted woman. Her husband of 20 years apparently was married before they met and married Viola before his first wife died. Which meant they were never legally married and her children were made illegitimate. She hasn’t been seen in Society in a long time. Viola has always been the perfect lady. It was an arranged marriage and she never even liked him, but she did her duty and never complained when he took mistresses and gambled away his son’s inheritance. She has always been the perfect wife and mother. Where did that ever get her?
A chance meeting in an out of the way Inn where both Marc and Viola are running away from their family and the guilt that drives them. They knew each other when they were both in London pretending to enjoy the Season. Marc saw something in Viola that made him pursue her even though she was married. Viola was young and lonely and fell in love with Marc, but she would never have an affair and sent him away. Marc persuades Viola to run away with him for a week of being free of all their cares and of pleasures that she has never had before.
The journey that Marc and Viola take through this story is so profound. It is filled with sadness, guilt, regret, and discovery. The fears they discover are ones that they have buried for years. The greatest one is that it is not too late. They can try to redeem themselves and embrace their feelings and those of the people who have always loved them, flaws and all.
This is vintage Mary Balogh, I cannot even tell how many times I cried in the last five chapters of this story. Mary has a way of letting you into the minds and hearts of her characters that you feel what they feel. All of her characters are memorable and her stories ones that you will read over and over, year after year. If you are new to Historical Romance, I highly recommend you start with Mary’s books. Mary is the standard for all Authors of Historial Romance to emulate.
Kinda blah.
Huge fan of this author, but wasn’t sure I’d like this book. The heroine had her entire world ripped apart in the 1st book of this series. Also, she’s the mother of some of the H/h in the series. I bought it anyway, and read it, and was definitely glad that I did. Her struggled with coming to terms with the new circumstances of her life seemed real. Her attraction and relationship with the Hero is great. The love the characters have for each other and for their families is wonderful (even if they would like a little less interference!) I highly recommend this book.
One of my favorite authors. I’d read other books in the series, and thoroughly enjoyed this one also. Well thought out with more than the usual boy-meets-girl plot.
Love everything Mary Balough writes
Lovely
This is one in a series of books based on a family of characters, this one involving primarily the parents. As such the story involves a mature liaison and results in a warm, adult love story.
You can count on Mary to always have a great, hard to put down story!
I loved it
Dialogue that made me laugh out loud.
Excellent!
I liked this way more than I expected to, but I could still do without the family history recap that seems to happen in every chapter. But I appreciated how different these characters were from the other love stories.
Characters drawn out of their normal setting to rethink their past lives and try to break free from convention. it takes time and a little help from others but, as always with Mary Balogh, there is the happy ending that the reader longs for.